STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________________ CLASS__________

NORTHERN EDUCATION DIVISION

2025 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION MOCK EXAMINATION

AGRICULTURE
Date: Thursday, 27th March Subject number: M012/I

Time allowed: 2hrs

8:00-10:00am

PAPER I

(100 marks)

Theory

Instructions:

1. This paper contains 7 printed pages.

Please check.
2. This paper has two sections A and B.
Section A has ten questions and section
B three sections.
3. Answer all questions in the spaces
provided.
4. Write your name on all pages.
5. In the table, tick against a question you
have answered
6. At the end of examination, hand in your
paper the invigilator.

Questions Tick if Do not write

answered in this column
STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________________ CLASS__________

1
2
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STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________
SECTION A (70 MARKS)
Answer all questions.
1. a. Give any two cultivated species of mushrooms.
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____________________________ (2 marks)
b. Describe soil porosity.
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____________________________(2 marks)
c. Describe the following forms of soil degradation.
i. Chemical degradation.
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ii. Physical degradation.
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____________________________________________________________________________(2 marks)
2. a. Give any two importance of livestock improvement.
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____________________________ (2 marks)
b. Describe the following vegetative planting materials.
i. Stem cuttings.
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______________ (2 marks)
ii. Suckers.
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_______________(2 marks)
3. a. Give any two ways in which trading of agricultural commodities is important at community level
(i)
____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
(ii)
____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. Farmer X sold dressed chickens to Chipiku stores. A restaurant owner bought 1 packet of these dressed
chickens from Chipiku, the chicken was then prepared and later sold to a customer.
i. With a well labelled diagram show the market channel taken by the product mentioned in the
information provided in question 3.b. above.

(3 marks)
ii. Name the type of marketing channel shown in 3.b.i above.
____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Explain any two factors that affect the nutrient status of soil.
(i)
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STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________
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______________(2 marks)
(ii)
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______________ (2 marks)
4.a. Describe any two poor farming practices which encourage water loss.
(i)
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_____________________________________ (2 marks)
(ii)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________(2 marks)
b. Describe any one way in which rotational grazing would help to control ticks.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________(2 marks)
5. a. Explain one way in which mixed cropping would ensure food security at house hold level.
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_____________________________________ (2 marks)
b. Explain any one way in which the following measures would reduce the impacts of climate change.
(i) Conservation agriculture
___________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________(2 marks)
(ii) water harvesting
___________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________(2 marks)
6. Table below shows results of an experiment on the effect of fertiliser rate on maize yield. Use it to answer the
questions that follow.
Table 1
Fertiliser rate (kg/ha) Yield (kg) Marginal return (kg)
0 1000 0
100 1700 700
200 3000 1300
300 5000 2000
400 7000 2000
500 7500 500
600 7600 100
700 7600 0
a. Plot a graph of yield against fertiliser rate.

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STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________

(5 marks)

b. From the graph, what is the best fertiliser rate that can be recommended for growing maize.
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
c. Give a reason for your answer in 7 b.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________ (2 marks)
d. State the economic principle which has been illustrated on the graph.
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
7. Figure 1 is a diagram showing a livestock parasite. Use it to answer questions that follow.

a. Name the parasite

_____________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. Describe any one effect of the parasite on livestock production
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________(2 marks)
c. Give any two ways of controlling the parasite named in 5 a.
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________ (2marks)
8. Table 1 shows milk produced by three different cows kept by a farmer

Milk produced per day

Cow No
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
1 6 4 7 9
2 7 5 6 3
3 3 6 4 7
a. Name the type of record kept by the farmer
_____________________________________________________(1 mark)
b. Which of these cows should be culled? Show your working

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STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________
(4marks)
c. Calculate income obtained in day 3 if the milk was sold at K1,200 per litre

(2 marks)
d. State any two reasons for keeping such a record on a farm
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________(2 marks)
9. Draw the reproductive organ of a cow and label any two parts.

(3 marks)
10. A Farmer kept the following record. Use it to answer questions that follow
 Sold 45 bags of maize at K50,000/bag
 Paid casual labour K108,000
 Bought 5kg seed at K8,000 per kg
 Bought 4 bags of fertilizer at K120,000 each.
Prepare a financial record (8 marks).

SECTION B (30 marks)

Answer all the three question in this section. Your answers should be in essay form.
11. Describe any five management practices that are done when rearing calves.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
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STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________
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12. Explain any five ways in which agricultural cooperatives are important to farmers.
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_____________(10 marks)

13. Describe any five effects of gender biases in agricultural technology.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
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STUDENT’ NAME _______________________________________________ CLASS ___________________
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(10marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER.

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